On the Wings of Hope: Prose (Recognized)

On the way to sun

We know from a childhood of how curses on the barricades have been cured, and of how curses were removed on the building spots and in the laboratories, and you shall lift the last curse, you – future teachers and mentors. In the last war, most bloodless and toughest for its soldiers.

Strugatskie brothers

I was told this story by a friend of mine about a year ago. He was working as a teacher in one of the schools that time – a fine teacher and a psychologist from a God, even though he was neither the first nor the second according to his specialty. My tenacious memory still keeps these images and words, which have deeply sunk into my soul, induced me to radically change my usual activity and the way of life. And I am not disappointed in the choice I have made – I am glad for it. I am grateful to my friend for that – and will always be, for my entire new life has started from that particular moment once. I am giving this story to you – and may you see and understand in it even more than I in due time. That will make me happy. So let's move on, my friends!

***

It was a cool autumn evening and we were talking, having conveniently arranged ourselves on some bench in a park, – he decided to tell me of a case from his educational practice. He was working as a literature teacher in one of the city schools at that time. Or, to be more precise, was earning additionally, as they say, – conducted preliminary courses in that subject for the purpose of preparation of pupils for receipt in city's liberal arts college. He has been working on that subject for a third year and was considered one of the best "experts" in the field, however, as I remember, he himself has been constantly screwing up his face during the mention of this word.

"I am not an expert," he spoke often, "I am myself still walking the path of knowledge". I remember as well how he was distressed from time to time to be compelled to prepare these "experts", filling heads of pupils with appropriate and necessary material, even though he was filling them skillfully and with mutual benefit and pleasure for both parties.

"It's not the main thing, Alexander, not that," he used to tell me. "I am compelled to give people smart charts and tables, which have been thought up for them very long ago. Yes, I can present it in a fascinating and interesting manner – but this itself won't teach pupils the art of thinking. Long-dead schemes, some scientific approaches – what's in it for them? To make true men from them – that's my goal, Alexander. To make people accustomed to thinking without prejudices and without prejudices approaching all phenomena of life, so that they don't say "it's impossible" – but tried, worked and achieved result instead – including these areas that have been inaccessible to their forces yesterday. I desire to teach them how to love work, seeing in it a constantly renewing source for themselves and the mean to open new horizons – for only free from prejudices people who love their work are able to study all horizons of the world opened before them. Do you understand what I am talking about?"

To be honest, I could truly understand little from what he was speaking but continued to listen with interest. All in all, my friend was a curious and interesting person – knew a lot himself and could teach much (no, not that academic sort of wisdom, but that of true life!). He was attentive and kind. He was simply wise.

I listened, and he continued speaking.

"There is nothing impossible by its nature – simply something not yet implemented – that's what their motto should be! How hard it is, Alexander, to combine the teaching of such world-outlook and pollute their heads with limited conceptions, imposed by this or that scientific approach, at the same time! After all, it's necessary to teach them thinking and studying independently, only that way both interest and hobby will join themselves – and love to work will become a pledge of free and bright creativity! We have to alter the educational system in that direction, but combined efforts of a great number of people are necessary for that. And while there is nothing like that is present and the position of a teacher – great role and responsibility! – is reduced to that of a slave – what terrible phenomena starts happening, Alexander!